Tradhunter - Traditional Archery Bow Hunting Forums

Looks good, James. Is that on the fringe of a bean field?

I was sitting on a ridge often used as a bedding area for Deer coming up from the fields. It's also among some White Oaks I hoped they would be feeding on. Where the brown waypoint marker is.

morning view

Captainkirk wrote:Looks good, James. Is that on the fringe of a bean field?

there is corn about 400 yards west. beans just north of the corn

Had three large bodied Deer pass by about 40 yards in front of me just before this picture. I messed up this morning, I passed by my stand without seeing it. The worst part is that I walked through where they passed then had to turn back to find my stand. They knew I went through there and wanted nothing to do with it! Very likely were coming up my hollow to get to the bedding area beyond and behind me! But my walking right by the stand may have cost me, will never really know. I'm sure nobody else has had any trouble finding their stand before good daylight.

Who, me? NEVER! LOL

Of course a fella only remembers the times where you have done that and it likely cost you a shot. Im sure ive done it more then I remember, but I can distinctly remember 2 times where it cost me....one of those times it flat out made me sick. I'm pretty sure in the most recent time, that it was either a doe or a small racked young buck but unsure because it was still low light. The other time was a very large racked 10 point buck, one of the better deer I've seen period. I cant let you all think I did everything right except missed my stand, because thats not the case. The stand its self was in a bit of a poor position that needed fine tuned and moved by 40 yards or better. However after seeing no deer from it all morning, sometime around 10:00 a.m., I heard some trampling behind me in the small open pasture of a hill top. I turned to see, and low and behold a huge buck was bounding right directly at me. When he reached the timbers edge he stopped and looked behind him and was a mere 15 yards behind and to my left. I readied the bow and arrow for the broadside shot he would soon Give me at less then 10 yards when he would pass by. It was at that time I remembered that some 4 1/2 hrs earlier I'd walked past my stand by about 15 yards, just like you did Tony. I quickly gave a silent wish that all my scent proofing and clean rubber boots would save me. He turned his head to come on into the timber as my heart pounded! He took a few steps inward and looked as if he hit a brick wall, and I knew. He stood motionless a few seconds, then jogged back to the outside and towards the direction I'd came in. He tried 2x to cut in to the timber to go his original easterly direction, but hit my scent trail each time and continued along it south going towards my truck. I could see the road and my truck some 100 yards away, and he ended up going all the way to the road, crossed it 20 yards in front of my parked truck, and got into an agricultural field on the other side and finally went east and out of my life forever...lol!
As I pondered what just happened, I heard scurrying nearby. I swear, it was a dog no bigger then Tonys quality control dog, only with a lot more hair, probably a Lhasa Apso. It sniffed all about where the buck deer had been, and followed its trail clear up to the road and beyond! Then I snickered at the idea a tiny dog drove that big buck deer to me, or I'd of never seen it most likely.

Funny stuff as we look back and laugh at our mess ups. That's why we call it hunting and not killing. Kinda makes you sick at the time but we live and learn, then we make all new mistakes!

Hot and humid but I got out and watched the sun set yesterday evening.

Nice Tony, I plan on being out in the Morning. (then mailing my antlers to Graps after the P.O. opens) Not sure which stand yet. If its one I have posted already this year, I will post pictures again after the leaves fall. Of course any critters of interest will have to smile for the camera. Temps are cool here now after the cold front pushed through. Should get them moving again.